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BIDDEFORD, Maine -- Abby Cavallaro (CCC 1st Team) converted three free throws in the final 11.6 seconds around a defensive stop as fourth-seeded University of New England secured a 60-58 victory against No.5 Gordon College on the opening day of the 2020 Commonwealth Coast Conference Women's Basketball Championship at the Harold Alfond Forum Tuesday night (Feb. 25).

The Nor'easters (19-7) advance into the semifinals where they will visit top-seeded Western New England University on Thursday at 7 p.m. [Interactive Bracket]

The lead changed seven times in less than four minutes of the 4th quarter, and the first break in that scoring pattern came when Cavallaro canned a second consecutive trey to give UNE a 55-51 edge with 5:43 remaining [Watch]. Olivia Gagnon hit a three-pointer out of a timeout to answer right back for the Fighting Scots, and the teams traded scores soon after to make it 57-56 with 3:56 on the clock.

It was a combined five empty trips before Sarah Gibbs (CCC Defensive Player of the Year / 3rd Team) slid the visitors in front (58-57) at the 2:09 mark. UNE missed two chances on its next possession, but three misses and a shot-clock violation by Gordon opened the door back up for the Nor'easters with 33 ticks to play.

Cavallaro drew a foul driving to the hoop and made both freebies for a 59-58 lead [Watch]. UNE used the couple fouls it had to give and left the Scots with only 4.3 seconds; Gordon put the ball back in play but stepped on the base line with 1.6 showing. Cavallaro was fouled, once again, with 0.4 remaining and added one to the winning total.

Supporting Cavallaro's 23 points was Madalyn Sanborn with 10 and five rebounds. Sadie Nelson (CCC 3rd Team) added eight points, and Jocelyn Chaput (CCC 2nd Team) contributed a team-high nine boards and four steals. The Nor'easters struggled to shoot just 29.7 percent (19-of-64) from the floor and 3-for-15 from deep, but only turned it over six times and finished with a 12-point cushion at the charity stripe (19-7).

The Fighting Scots end the year with an overall record of 15-11, which included twice the number of league wins from last year (10) and the first CCC ledger above .500 since 2004-05. Meghan Foley (CCC Player of the Year / 1st Team) led the way with 25 points, seven caroms, and five assists. Gagnon and Serianna Anderson tossed in nine points apiece, while 15 rebounds from Madison Wynbeek and nine more by Gibbs helped GC post a 45-33 advantage on the glass. The visitors bettered the hosts by connecting at a 39.7 percent clip from the field (23-of-58), but were hampered by 22 turnovers.

Gordon jumped out to a 9-4 edge at the start, but a last-second trey by Faith Connors had UNE back even at 11-all through 10 minutes. The Nor'easters never trailed in the 2nd frame and were up one intermission (30-29), but that quickly disappeared as Foley struck for the initial seven of the 3rd. Foley had 12 in the stanza by the 3:50 mark, when the Scots assumed the game's largest margin (43-34), however nine of the last 10 went to UNE and the deficit was just one (44-43) entering the deciding period.

Thursday's trip to Springfield, Mass. will be the second in less than two weeks for the Nor'easters. Western New England completed the season sweep on February 15 by answering a UNE rally with the final ten points in a 58-49 result that clinched the No.1 spot. The Golden Bears picked up a 53-42 decision in Biddeford on January 18.